Covid-19: North Adams and Other Towns Declare State of Emergency

The City of North Adams declared a State of Emergency Friday in the wake of the current coronavirus crisis.

IBerkshires.com reports that Mayor Tom Bernard was joined at City Hall early Friday evening by Adams Town Administrator Jay Green and Williamstown Town Manager Jason Hoch, whose towns are also taking additional action.

Bernard said that North Adams City Hall will be closed to the public beginning this Monday, March 16, and dropboxes will be installed at the entrances for any paperwork or documents that can't be faxed or emailed.

The Peter W. Foote Veterans Memorial Skating Rink has been ordered closed and the city is also limiting access to other public buildings including the library and the Spitzer Center. Bernard said the Library is scheduled to reopen Tuesday after a deep cleaning.

In Williamstown, Hoch said the Williamstown Library is closed, Council on Aging programs have been discontinued and Town Hall will be closed to the public as of Monday.

The towns of Adams and Cheshire have also declared states of emergency, with explanations available on their respective Facebook pages.

Clarksburg declared a state of emergency on Friday morning. As posted on the town's website, they have now extended closure of all town buildings through Friday, March 27.

Generally speaking, declaring a state of emergency ensures that a community will be eligible for any Federal and State reimbursement for certain municipal expenses and activities, in this case related to the COVID-19 response.